Dandasana

Dandasana was the hardest pose for me when I began to practice. My hamstrings were so tight that even with my knees bent my pelvis tilted backwards. Years later I still cringe whenever it comes up in class.

Now I can do poses that I wouldn't have dared to dream of in the beginning. Somewhere along the way dandasana became easier, but my dread of it remained.

That made me start wondering ... how many other poses have changed without my noticing?

My new focus on my mat is to reexamine my practice.

Let go of how it used to feel or how I think it should be.
Focus on what is happening in the moment.
Breathe and be present.
Feel.

Wish me luck, this may be harder than dandasana used to be.

Bring your yoga mat with you wherever you go.

Have a good laugh at least once a day.

savasana poem.

savasana has arrived.
relax, let go.
follow the wandering mind
to a place of silence, peace, joy.
follow the breath
scan my body
thinking to myself,
so grateful -

a mind to study, contemplate, understand
eyes to see beauty all around
ears for listening
a voice allowing me to communicate with others
lungs to breathe deeply
heart full of love and continously beating
arms and legs providing myself with the freedom to move and explore
to be alive
to be happy
to be healthy

wiggling fingers and toes,
gently opening eyes,
hearing the silence in our minds,
feeling love in our hearts,
filled with joy by surroundings,
beautiful life.
beautiful savasana.




- ashley -

Pachimottanasana C

My New Year's Resolutions:

make all pancakes in the shape of a smiley faces

floss

work on left side hanumanasana (split)

go on an adventure once a week

stop bad mouthing institutions that i feel wronged by

learn three new jokes that i can share with anyone

stake my tomatoes

-kathy

Happy New Year! Be yourself. xoxo kathy

How to teach Urdhva Dhanurasana

...just stand on them!  

Krishnamacharya teaching at his school in Mysore.

Good Book

I just read The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. My daughter has read it several times so I figured it was time for me to check it out. It is an excellent story about a young shepard who leaves his lifestyle in search of a buried treasure. The book is really about having dreams, listening to your heart, and taking chances (as in getting out of your comfort zone and not letting obstacles stop you from where you are going.) I highly recommend the book. It is a very quick read.
Roberta

Ready to share?

I did something I'd never done before this past week. I baked cookies for my students, spice cookies to be exact. For some reason it was a nerve-wracking experience. (what if nobody liked them? what if they found a dog hair in one? what if?) It brought back memories of that same nervous feeling I had before my first class, and just like that first class everything turned out fine. (This week one woman took extra cookies home for her husband... and people have been coming back to class for years now). Sharing wasn't so bad after all, whether it be cookies or yoga. Now the only question is what would they like better next week: brownies or cupcakes?

Speaking of cookies, here's the recipe for the cinnamon cookies Brooke made last class...


Sugar Crinkles

1 cup shortening
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla extract
2 1/2 cups flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 to 1 tsp. cinnamon

Beat shortening and 1 1/2 cups sugar at medium speed until fluffy. Add eggs and extract, beating until blended.
Combine flour, baking powder and salt; gradually add to shortening mixture, beating well. Cover and chill dough.
Shape dough into 1" balls. Combine 1/4 cup sugar and cinnamon. Roll cookie dough balls in sugar mixture. Place on ungreased cookie sheets.
Bake at 350 degrees for 8 to 9 minutes or until barely golden. Let cool 2 minutes on cookie sheet, then transfer to wire racks to cool completely.

Making Spaces

Looking through an old journal I came to this, which I had coppied in with a note to myself.

"Beneath the veneer of civilization… lies not the barbarian and the animal, but the human in us who knows what is right and necessary for becoming fully human: birth in gentle surroundings, a rich nonhuman environment, juvenile tasks with simple tools,… play at being animals,… clan membership and small group life and the profound claims of liberation of ritual initiation and the subsequent stages of adult mentorship. There is a secret person undamaged in each of us, aware of the validity of these conditions, sensitive to their right moments in our lives." Paul Shepard

How might I make some of this possible, in some small way, during the time my students are with me?

Mike